How Do You Insulate An Outside Hutch?

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kerry

kerry

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My guinea pigs are living outside and they will be for the winter because I have absolutely no room for them inside under current circumstances otherwise I would have them snuggled inside with me.

They currently live between two hutches that open up onto their own patch of garden where they can pop in and out at their own free will.

Its getting colder at night now and I want to make sure they are nice and warm. At the moment each hutch is raised off of the floor so its warm wood and they have newspaper and then fleece and hay so inside is fine but the outside is protected by a waterproof cover and at night I put a blanket over the front to stop any drafts. Both are completely water proof.

What else can I do to make it warmer? When autum/winter hits I will put a duvet over each hutch and then a water proof cover.

What do you do to keep your outside hutch warm?
 
My hutch cover disintegrated after one season. What covers have you got and where did you get them from?

On a facebook forum people have suggested Snuggle safe microwave heatpads. I think I will be trying some of those this year! You can get them on Amazon and VetUk and probably from other retailers too! x
 
I would recommend snugglesafe heat pads. Amazon sell them fairly cheap ( between £15 -25). They come with a cover but you can buy replacements and spares from some guinea pig snuggle companies. Basically u put it in the microwave for so long and it heats up making it nice and cosy for your pets. I would stuff their hutch (mainly their bed) with hay every night. I have noticed that my boys love to dig and burrow so I love putting a lot of hay in their cage even when they are brought in for winter. To protect their water bottles from freezing u can buy bottle snugs and covers which keep the water from freezing overnight. They range from £3 - £7 depending on the size. Good luck keeping the pigs warm x : )
 
@Clair Its a cover that is specific for the cage from pets at home. Its lasted really well, maybe because my pigs are in a sheltered area.

@Perfectpets11 I have heard of these but I'm not sure about them. If they loose heat wont it make the pigs cold? Years ago when our rabbit unexpectedly gave birth (we rescued her) in winter we put a hot water bottle in the cage and by morning it was freezing.

@katali we use big thick mens socks on the bottles, works brilliant. Might even crochet another layer. The bottls didnt freeze last year so they must work.

I'm sure my pigs will be fine as they all survived last winter with no problems, I just like to worry about them ;)
 
Some people use bubble rap, but leave off a space so air can get in!
 
When my piggies were living outdoors, they had snuggle safe heat pads 24:7 especially during the worst of the weather. I can't recommend them enough and they are much safer than hot water bottles. If they were to go cold before you had the chance to replace them, they don't freeze.

Fleecy beds, cardboard boxes stuffed with hay, plenty of fresh hay in the sleeping areas and normal fleeces that they can snuggle in to.
 
I am going to get the snuggle safe pads I think, where is best to buy them? Pets at home is so expensive!
 
kerry said:
I am going to get the snuggle safe pads I think, where is best to buy them? Pets at home is so expensive!
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They are pretty much the same price in p@h as in any other shop/online shop- unless you find them on offer very occasionally. They last years, i bought mine about 8/9 years ago for my rabbits and still going strong.
 
kerry said:
@Clair Its a cover that is specific for the cage from pets at home. Its lasted really well, maybe because my pigs are in a sheltered area.

@Perfectpets11 I have heard of these but I'm not sure about them. If they loose heat wont it make the pigs cold? Years ago when our rabbit unexpectedly gave birth (we rescued her) in winter we put a hot water bottle in the cage and by morning it was freezing.

@katali we use big thick mens socks on the bottles, works brilliant. Might even crochet another layer. The bottls didnt freeze last year so they must work.

I'm sure my pigs will be fine as they all survived last winter with no problems, I just like to worry about them ;)
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Hi Kerry! No these heat pads last up to 10hrs of warmth. That's what it says on the packaging and I find it does. By the time the sun is up on a morning they are just starting to cool down but since guinea pigs are up at dawn and dusk I find it's perfect timing. Just put it in about 8-9:30 so it cools at good timing unless u are willing to venture outside at 10 at might in the cold! : ) I love mine i find it works wonders x
 
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